Apparatus for producing veneer



Nov. 18, 1969 A. PALMER AL 3,478,789

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VENEER Filed Nov. 12. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-l m8 4 9o 2:: INVENTORS L 44 /& ALBERT PALMER a 45 BY VERNE. L. LINDBERG ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1969 PALMER ETAL APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VENEER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 12, 1965 Nov. 18, 1969 P E ETAL APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VENEER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1965 United States Patent 3,478,789 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VENEER Albert Palmer and Verne L. Lindberg, Everett, Wash. assignors to The Black Clawson Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 507,410 Int. Cl. B27] /02 US. Cl. 144-209 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated knife with serrated teeth each having a longitudinally cutting edge is supported for oscillation betwen laterally adjustable roller bearings. A rod has one end pivotally connected to the knife and the other end eccentrically connected to a spindle which is eccentrically mounted within a driven sleeve, and the spindle is rotatable within the sleeve While the sleeve is rotating for selecting the optimum amplitude of oscillation for the knife.

This invention relates to machinery for producing wood veneer, and specifically to an improved peeling apparatus for use with a veneer lathe to produce a veneer of uniform high quality so that the surface of the veneer requires less sanding and will readily receive glue.

It has been determined that an oscillating veneer knife having finely serrated teeth on its cutting edge has the potential of producing a high quality veneer having uniform thickness and a surface similar in appearance to that of a felt hat, that is, having a smooth velvet-like textured surface with a minimum of pull-ot1ts. A veneer of such quality is highly desirable in that it requires less sanding since it is unnecessary to sand deep into the veneer to eliminate pull-out areas. To obtain this high quality, however, it has been found desirable to be able to adjust the frequency and amplitude of oscillation of the serrated knife while the veneer is being formed so that the optimum oscillatory movement of the knife can be selected according to the type of wood being peeled Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present in vention to provide an improved peeling apparatus for producing veneer of high quality from a log being rotated by a veneer lathe, wherein the cutting knife can be oscillated at the optimum frequency and amplitude.

A further object is to provide an improved veneer peeling apparatus including an oscillating knife having finely serrated teeth along its cutting edge.

As another object, the present invention provides a peeling apparatus which includes a drive mechanism for adjusting the frequency and amplitude of the knife oscillation while the knife is oscillating so that the optimum movement of the cutting edge can be selected for producing the highest quality veneer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a peeling apparatus as outlined above including a novel bearing arrangement for mounting the serrated knife for oscillation and including a spring tension mechanism connected to the knife so that the cutting edge of the knife is assured of perfectly straight alignment while the knife is oscillating.

As another object, the present invention provides a novel apparatus as outlined above including a nose bar mounted adjacent the serrated cutting edge of the oscillating knife and means for adjustably setting the nose bar in relation to the cutting edge to produce a veneer having a precisely uniform thickness.

As a more specific object, the present invention provides a veneer peeling apparatus including a drive mechanism having a driven tubular sleeve with a spindle eccentrically mounted therein and further having a mechice anism for rotating the spindle relative to the sleeve while the -sleeve is being driven for adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of the veneer knife.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Iii the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of veneer peeling apparatus formed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 44 of FIG. 2, showing the mounting and position of the veneer knife;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the veneer knife and the structure for supporting the knife for high speed oscillating movement;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the knife cutting edge showing the fine serrations therein;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 77 of FIG. 3 showing the drive mechanism for oscillating the knife;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the drive mechanism on the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a somewhat schematic view showing the connecting linkage between the drive mechanism shown in ;FIG. 7 and the serrated knife shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the opposite end of the knife and its connection with a spring tension device.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the veneer peeling apparatus shown generally in FIGS. l-3 includes a base 15 which is adapted to be mounted on the cross feed member generally indicated at 16 of a veneer lathe (not shown) on which a log L (FIG. 3) of predetermined length is rotatably driven about its central axis. Frames 18 and 19 are mounted on top of the base 15, and frame 18 includes a longitudinally extending L-shaped portion 20 (FIG. 4) which is inclined forwardly from a vertical reference plane.

Mounted on the frame portion 20 by a series of bolts 21 is an elongated race 23 having a longitudinally extending dove-tail way 25 formed therein. Mounted for reciprocating movement within the way 25 is a generally flat elongated bearing cage 27 (FIG. 5) which retains a series of spaced rollers 29 for providing lateral support for the rear side of an elongated veneer knife 30. Supporting the bottom edge of the knife 30 is an elongated ball bearing 31 comprising a race 32 which is mounted on the frame section 20, preferably with a babbitt base portion 33. Spaced between the race 32 and the bottom edge surface of the knife 30 are a series of ball bearings 36 which are suitably retained and spaced by a bottom cage 38.

Supporting the forward side of the knife 30 is a second elongated race 40 (FIG. 4) which retains another cage 37 (FIG. 5) and a corresponding series of rollers 29. The race 40 is mounted on an elongated frame member 42 (FIG. 4) and is secured thereto by another series of bolts 21. The frame member 42 is adjustably mounted on the frame 18 by a series of screws 44 and 45 which enable the frame member 42 to be rocked or tilted relative to the frame portion 20 so that the knife 30 is firmly retained by the roller bearings for oscillating movement without lateral play. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the knife 30 is formed with a tapered cutting edge portion 48 having a series of closely spaced V-shaped serrations which define teeth 50 preferably having a pitch P of approximately .050 inches and a depth D of approximately .015 inch, and which are so formed as to provide a series of small straight or flat cutting edges 52.

Mounted on the upper sloping surface (FIG. 4) of the frame 18 is a nose bar retaining plate or member 58 having a series of slots 57 formed therein for receiving a corresponding series of locking bolts 59. An elongated nose bar 60 is rotatably mounted within the forward edge portion of the member 58 and is adapted to be adjustably spaced relative to the teeth 50 of the knife 30 by adjustment of a series of screws 64 which extend through a flange 66 of the frame 18 and are threaded into tapped bores in the rear portion of the retaining member 58. Lock nuts 68 are provided to prevent movement of the nose bar 60 after the adjusting screws 64 have been set and the bolts 59 have been tightened. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the nose bar 60 is rotatably driven by a hydraulically operated motor 70 which is supported by a bracket 72 mounted on the upper surface of the nose bar retaining member 58. A chain drive 74 connects one end of the nose bar 60 to the output shaft of the hydraulic motor 70.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, each end of the knife 30 is provided with a laterally extending groove 76. This groove at one end of the knife receives a lug portion 77 (FIG. 10) extending from an L-shaped connecting member 80. The lug 77 is secured or clamped within the groove 76 by a wedge member 82 which engages a beveled end surface 84 of the knife 30 and is fastened to the connecting member by a pair of screws 84. A tension rod 86 is threaded into the connecting member 80 and extends longitudinally from the end of the knife 30 into a spring retaining housing 90 which is mounted on the frame 18 by bolts 92 (FIG. 1). Extending between the end portion 94 of the housing 90 and the head portion 96 of the tension rod 86 is a compression spring 98 (FIG. 10) which maintains tension on the rod 86 and thus a continuous pulling force on the end of the knife 30.

Referring to FIG. 9, the opposite end of the knife 30 is provided with a groove 76 and a beveled surface 84, and is secured to the end of a connecting member 100 by another wedge member 82. The connecting member 100 is slidably supported within a housing 102 (FIGS. 1 and 9) mounted on the frame 19 by bolts 104. Pivotally connected to a yoke shaped end portion 106 of the member 100 by a pin 107 is a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod 108 which connects with a drive mechanism 110 mounted on the frame 19.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the drive mechanism 110 includes a housing having a hollow cylindrical casing 117. End covers 119 and 120 are mounted on the casing 117 and secured thereto by the screws 122. Rotatably mounted within the casing 117 by a pair of spaced apart ball bearings 124 is a sleeve 125. One end of the sleeve 125 extends through the end cap 120 and carries a sheave 126 retained thereon by a key 127 and set screw 128. The sheave 126 is connected by a series of V-belts 130 (FIG. 1) to a similar pulley 129 mounted on the output shaft of a variable speed hydraulic motor 131.

A pair of diametrically opposed slots 133 (FIG. 8) within the casing 117 of the housing 115 receive a corresponding pair of pins 135 threaded into an annular shifting collar 138 slidably mounted within the casing 117 between the ball bearings 124. Rotatably mounted relative to and within the shifting collar 138 is an annular bearing member 140 which is retained by an annular retainer 143 secured Within the shifting collar 138 by a snap ring 144. A pair of aligned studs 146 are threaded into the bearing member 140 and extend inwardly slightly offset (FIG. 7) from the axis of the sleeve 125. As shown in FIG. 8, the studs extend through corresponding axially extending slots 148 formed within the sleeve 125, and each stud 146 is provided with a cylindrical inner tip portion 149 (FIG. 8).

As shown in FIG. 7, a spindle 150 is eccentrically mounted within the sleeve 125 and is adapted to rotate within the sleeve. Formed within the external surface of the spindle 150 are a pair of diametrically opposed spiral grooves 152 which receive the corresponding cylindrical tip portions 149 of the threaded studs 146. As shown in FIG. 8, a retaining ring 154 is mounted on one end of the spindle 150. A shoulder 156 is formed on the opposite end of the spindle 150 and a cylindrical stud 158 extends therefrom. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the axis of the stud 158 is eccentrically positioned relative to the axis of the spindle 150 preferably by a distance equal to the eccentric spacing between the axis of the sleeve 125 and the axis of the spindle 150. As shown in FIG. 9, the connecting rod 108 is mounted on the spindle stud 158 and is retained thereon by a suitable end cap (not shown).

A shift lever 160 is pivotally mounted by a pin 161 on a flange 162 (FIGS. 3 and 7) extending upwardly from the cylindrical casing 117 and forming a part of the housing 115, and the shift lever 160 includes a pair of curved arms 165 having slots formed therein for receiving the pins 135. An adjusting bolt (FIG. 3) is pivotally connected to the upper end of the shift lever 160 by a pin 172 (FIG. 7) and extends through a tubular member 175 mounted on the upper portion of the flange 162. A pair of lock nuts 177 are used for locking the bolt 170 in position.

As a result of the eccentric mounting of the connecting rod 108 on the stud 158 (FIG. 9), it can be seen that as the sleeve 125 is rotated by the hydraulic motor 130, the veneer knife 30 is provided with an oscillatory movement having a frequency according to the selected speed of the variable speed motor 130. Thus if the speed of the motor is varied, the frequency of oscillation is correspondingly changed.

The drive mechanism 110 also enables the amplitude or stroke of oscillation of the knife 30 to be varied as the sleeve 125 is rotating by adjusting the bolt 170 axially within the member 175. That is, as the shift lever 160 is pivoted about the pin 161, the collar 138 is moved axially within the casing 117 so that the cylindrical tip portions 149 of the studs 146 are cammed along the spiral slots 152 in the spindle 150 causing relative rotation of the spindle within the sleeve 125. Preferably, the spiral grooves 152 are so formed as to enable the axis of the stud 158 to be shifted or adjusted from a position concentric with the axis of the sleeve 125 (FIG. 7) to a full eccentric position of approximately one inch as shown in FIG. 9. Thus the amplitude or stroke of oscillation of the knife 30 can be varied from zero to approximately two inches while the knife is oscillating and the system could be constructed to provide a longer stroke if desired.

From the drawings and the above description, it can be seen that a veneer forming or peeling apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention provides several desirable features and advantages. Primarily, the apparatus enables both the frequency and amplitude of oscillation to be adjustably set while the apparatus is in operation so that the optimum oscillatory movement of the knife can be selected for the particular wood being sliced or peeled. Another feature is provided by the side roller bearings and bottom ball bearing which support the knife 30 along with the tension provided by the compression spring 98. That is, the knife 30 will always be in tension and remain flat so that the cutting edge of the knife will remain perfectly straight and parallel to the nose bar 60 for assuring that the thickness over the veneer will remain precisely uniform.

Another feature of the invention is provided by the fine serrations 50 formed on the cutting edge portion 48 of the knife 30. These serrations cooperate with the oscillatory movement of the knife and have been found to provide a smooth velvet-like surface on the veneer with a substantial reduction in pull-outs. This surface has the appearance of a felt hat and when combined with the uniform thickness of the veneer has been found to reduce substantially the amount of sanding required to provide a finished surface.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing veneer from a log rotating on its axis, comprising an elongated knife having a cutting edge, means for mounting said knife for oscillatory movement in a longitudinal direction adjacent the surface of the log and parallel to the axis of the log, a rotatable spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a connecting member, pivot means connecting said member to said knife, pivot means connecting said member to said spindle eccentrically of its axis of rotation, means for adjusting the eccentric position of the latter said pivot means relative to the axis of rotation of said spindle, and said adjusting means include a member movable while said spindle is rotating to effect said adjusting for selecting the optimum amplitude of oscillation for said knife during the cutting operation.

2. Apparatus for producing veneer from a log rotating on its axis, comprising an elongated knife having a cutting edge, means for mounting said knife for oscillatory mogement in a longitudinal direction adjacent the surface of the log and parallel to the axis of the log, a rotatable spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a connecting member, pivot means connecting said member to said knife, pivot means connecting said member to said spindle eccentrically of its axis of rotation, means defining serrations along said cutting edge of said knife to form a plurality of fine teeth, and said teeth each having a longitudinally extending straight cutting edge for increasing the service life of said knife.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including means defining serrations along said cutting edge of said knife to provide a plurality of fine teeth for producing a veneer having a velvet-like surface texture.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said teeth on said knife include corresponding longitudinally extending straight cutting edges for increasing the service life of said knife and preventing slight wear of said teeth from effecting the uniform thickness of the veneer.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 including adjustable nose bar means adapted to cooperate with said cutting edges of said knife for precisely controlling the thickness of the veneer.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means forrotating said spindle include a variable speed drive for selecting the frequency of oscillation for said knife which provides the optimum operation of said apparatus.

7.'Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said spindle comprises an elongated spindle, said means for rotating said spindle include a tubular sleeve, means for rotatably supporting said sleeve on its longitudinal axis, means mounting said spindle within said sleeve so that the axis of said spindle is eccentric to the axis of said sleeve, and means for adjusting the eccentric position of said pivot means connecting said member to said spindle relative to the axis of rotation of said sleeve while said sleeve is rotating.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including a roller bearing positioned on each side of said knife, and means for adjusting the relative spacing between said bearings for substantially eliminating lateral distortion of said knife while oscillating.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including spring means connected to the end of said knife opposite said pivot means connecting said member to said knife for applying a tension force to said knife for maintaining said cutting edge in precise straight alignment.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including means defining a slot in said sleeve, means defining a spiral groove in the outer surface of said spindle, an adjusting collar surrounding said sleeve, pin means carried by said collar and extending through said slot within said sleeve and into said groove within said spindle for rotation with said sleeve, and means for shifting said collar axially along said sleeve while said sleeve is rotating to cause movement of said pin means within said groove producing relative rotation of said spindle within said sleeve to adjust the eccentric position of said pivot means connecting said member to said spindle relative to the axis of rotation of said sleeve for selecting the optimum amplitude of oscillation for said knife.

11. Apparatus for producing veneer from a log rotating on its axis, comprising an elongated fiat knife hav ing a cutting edge, means including a roller bearing on each side of said knife for supporting said knife for oscillatory movement in a longitudinal direction adjacent the surface of the log and parallel to the axis of the log, a rotatable spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a ber to said knife, pivot means connecting said member to said spindle eccentrically of its axis of rotation, and spring means connected to the end of said knife opposite said pivot means connecting said member to said knife for applying a tension force to said knife for maintaining said cutting edge in precise straight alignment.

12. Apparatus for producing veneer from a log rotating on its axis, comprising an elongated knife having a cutting edge, means for mounting said knife for oscillatory movement in a longitudinal direction adjacent the surface of the log and parallel to the axis of the log, a rotatable spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a connecting member, pivot means connecting said member to said knife, pivot means connecting said member to said spindle eccentrically of its axis of rotation, and spring means connected to the end of said knife opposite said pivot means connecting said member to said knife for applying a tension force to said knife for maintaining said cutting edge in precise straight alignment.

13. Apparatus for producing veneer from a log rotating on its axis, comprising an elongated flat knifehaving a cutting edge, holder means including a pair of generally parallel spaced anti-friction bearings positioned on opposite sides of said knife and supporting said knife for oscillatory movement in a longitudinal direction adjacent the surface of the log and parallel to the axis of the log, and drive means connected to oscillate said knife between said bearings and thereby to minimize the oscillating mass and to provide for high frequency oscillation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 200,467 2/ 1878 McEachren l44209 389,624 9/1888 Wilson. 2,384,435 9/1945 Bodine 81530 X 2,454,881 11/1948 Michelman 8530 X DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 144-212 Patent No.

Dated November 18, 1969 lnventofls) Albert Palmer and Verne L. Lindberg It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5,

Column Column Colunm Column Column following:

line 39,

line 52,

line 56,

line 66,

line 3,

"claim 11'' "claim 11" "claim 11" "claim ll" "claim 11'' should be claim l.

cancel lines 22-34 and substitute the Apparatus for producing veneer from a log rotating on its axis, comprising an elongated flat knife having a cutting edge, means including a roller bearing on each side of said knife for supporting said knife for oscillatory movement in a longitudinal direction adjacent the surface of the log and parallel to the axis of the log, a rotatable spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a connecting member, pivot means connecting said member to said knife, pivot means connecting said member to said spindle eccentrically of its axis of rotation, and means for adjusting the relative spacing between said bearings for substantially eliminating lateral distortion of said knife while oscillating.

Column 6, line 63, (class) "8l-530 X" should be Column 6, 83-530 X-.

6EAL) Anew line 64,

(class) "8 SKSNED AND SEALED JUN 2 .1970

530 X" should be WILLIAM E. suaumm, JR- Comissioner of Patents 

